The stories of HeroicStories.
by Greg Higgins
Illinois, USA
When I brought my wife and three children to the Midwestern portion of the USA in late 1999, I made judgments about the people in our new home state that turned out to be far from the truth. Coming from the south, I found the people in Illinois to be generally standoffish and somewhat uncaring — hardly the type of people I would have as true friends. Nonetheless, we settled into life in Romeoville, Illinois, just north of Joliet.
A Chemo Angel starts getting gifts from fellow buddies as she waits for her first child to be born.
by Maureen Grey
Illinois, USA
My sister and her son live in a small town in the Sierra Nevadas. “Susan” lives on a shoestring, working for the county. They do fine, with a small house and beautiful yard with a great homemade jungle gym. Trademark Sierras pines provide shade.
by Bruce McCormick
Mississippi, USA
My wife, three young daughters and I were starting dinner at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2001, when I smelled a hint of smoke. As my wife’s candles had caused this before, I wasn’t alarmed, but started looking around. Coming back from the kitchen the smell was stronger. Suddenly my wife and I both noticed a thin haze near the ceiling of the family room where we were eating.
by Linda M. Easterbrooks
Maine, USA
Last week, I went to a huge chain store. It’s so big I usually end up overwhelmed before finding what I’m looking for; even the parking lot is bigger than I’d like. When I go, I park beside a stray shopping cart so I can put Phillip, who is two years old, into the shopping cart and have Teresa, who is five, walk beside me into the store. When we reach the entryway, we swap to a two-child cart so they can both ride.
by The Husband
Maryland, USA
It began as many mornings do — far too early and far too dark. I slipped out of bed, anxious to shower and leave without waking my wife and baby. These early mornings were necessary if I was to beat the traffic through Baltimore and D.C. into northern Virginia.
by James Washington
New York, USA
My name is Jimmy; I’m a professional firefighter in New York. In my many years of service I have worked at only three firehouses, and we treat each other like family. When we hear 5-5-5-5 ring out, we know that a brother or sister firefighter has died in the line of duty.
by Connie Cushing
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
I was shocked, to say the least, by the news I saw on 11 September, 2001. We turned the television on about one minute into the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster. I know this is devastating for New Yorkers who work and live in the city, and for Americans who mourn the loss of fellow countrymen.
By Margaret Dolphin
California, USA
In October 2000 I wrote a poem for my best girlfriend because we’ve been through a lot together. We met when my daughter and her son were in the same Head Start program. For fun, I submitted my poem to an online poetry contest. I never heard back from them, but I didn’t expect to.
By Jennifer Hoeneise
Michigan, USA
I participated in an Alternative Spring Break (ASB) in 2001 through Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. In ASB, participants travel someplace during spring break to do volunteer work. Education is a primary focus of ASB; before break we learn about the issue we will volunteer with.